IMPORTANT NOTICE: We strongly recommend buying tickets well in advance. For private tours to Machu Picchu click here
As the Lonely Planet travel guide states, “For many visitors to Peru and even South America, a visit to the Inca city of Machu Picchu is the long-anticipated highpoint of their trip. In a spectacular location, it’s the best-known archaeological site on the continent. This awe-inspiring ancient city was never revealed to the conquering Spaniards and was virtually forgotten until the early part of the 20th century. Despite the great tourist influx, the site manages to retain an air of grandeur and mystery, and is a must for all visitors to Peru”.
Machu Picchu is indeed amazing but please note that there are some considerations when visiting it, particularly if you come with children.
Machu Picchu gets crowded, especially from June to August. On the upside, if we take into consideration that this area is part of the Amazon rainforest, peak season is also the time with the least amount of rain in the year. So chances are you will get to see Machu Picchu in all its glory for the whole day, and that is excellent for pictures!!
VISITING MACHU PICCHU
To visit Machu Picchu you will need 3 different tickets: train, shuttle bus and, of course the entrance tickets.
Machu Picchu entrance tickets have a a determined hour of entrance: From 6:00 am, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00 and 14:00 pm. Tickets can only be used once a day from the chosen time. It is very important to choose the appropriate entrance time taking into account the train arrival time. It takes no less than 30 minutes to get from the train station to the Machu Picchu entrance (see below).
All visits to Machu Picchu must be guided by a licensed (government-approved) tourist guide.
A regular, well-paced visit should take around 2.5 hours. However, it really depends on each person, and some want to stay there for hours doing nothing but contemplating the site. Another element to consider is whether someone wants to climb the Wayna (Huayna) Picchu mountain. If so, not only do you need a separate ticket but you also have to be at the Wayna entrance (inside MP) at 1 of 2 possibilities, either at 7am or 10am. Views are incredible but you need to be in top shape because the climb is very steep (total ascent is 1000feet - 360m). It takes approximately 60 minutes to go up and 45 minutes to descend.
If you want to climb the Wayna mountain you need to choose one of only 3 tickets possibilities: 6am entrance to citadel + 7am-8am entrance to Wayna, 7am entrance to citadel + 7am-8am entrance to Wayna or 8am entrance to citadel + 10.30am-11.30am entrance to Wayna. Tickets are very limited so you have to buy tickets months in advance.
There are no restaurants, shops or appropriate resting areas inside Machu Picchu. You are not allowed to picnic inside either. Please note that there are no toilets inside and you will have to return to the entrance (go up and down!) every time someone wants to go. A large bottle of water for each person and plenty of sunscreen is strongly advised.
GETTING THERE
As you may probably already know, there is only one available lodging possibility in Machu Picchu and that is the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. Prices are extremely high ($600 plus per night Jan-Feb / $ 1100 per night the rest of the year) and there is very little availability. Instead people tend to stay in Aguas Calientes, which is also the final destination of the Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu train. By the way, no train arrives directly to Machu Picchu. From Aguas Calientes you can either take the shuttle bus to the main entrance (8 miles/ 25 min) or walk uphill (90 minutes, moderate difficulty track).
Aguas Calientes is a touristy town, with a vast number of overpriced hotels and restaurants and a large souvenir market covering the main –and only- road. Double rooms range from USD 600/night in luxury hotels to USD 20/night in basic backpackers hostels, with a median price of around USD 85/night.
If you want to get to Machu Picchu you can easily do so as a day trip to Kantuwasi. You can catch an early train to visit Machu Picchu in the morning or a mid-morning train for a more relaxed afternoon visit. The closest train station are the ones in Urubamba (5 minutes by car) and Ollantaytambo (25 minutes by car).
All trains are very comfortable but unfortunately extremely expensive. The basic train is the Expedition which feature panoramic windows and comfortable seats. The Vistadome trains have larger panoramic windows (glass roof) and include a snack and non-alcoholic beverages. The Sacred Valley train offers a gourmet dining experience in 1920s style cars on a 3-hour journey from Urubamba to Machu Picchu.
Alternative Route
If you have an adventurous spirit, there is an alternative route to Machu Picchu, which involves going by car through spectacular scenery as the mountains give way to the Amazon rainforest. It takes 5 hours to get to Santa Teresa by car (Van), followed by a very short train ride or 2 to 3-hour hike along rail tracks to finally reach Aguas Calientes. Most importantly, you must sleep in Aguas Calientes, which makes the price difference small versus the regular route. Price is approximately USD 50 per person (private Van) plus the optional short train ride which costs USD 31 per way. People normally walk to Aguas Calientes and return by train. If you are interested we can help you organize this trip.
For more info please visit http://goo.gl/z4tTbn
Important information:
We strongly recommend you buy tickets to Machu Picchu in advance since the maximum capacity of 500-800 people per hour can be easily reached, especially in peak months. If you choose to climb the Huayna Picchu mountain the limit is further reduced. Unfortunately only adult and children tickets can be bought online through the official website. Student tickets can be bought either directly at an official office (Cusco or Aguas Calientes) or through other authorized internet vendors (see below).
You need to take your passport with you; otherwise you will be denied access to Machu Picchu. Some important restrictions:
As the Lonely Planet travel guide states, “For many visitors to Peru and even South America, a visit to the Inca city of Machu Picchu is the long-anticipated highpoint of their trip. In a spectacular location, it’s the best-known archaeological site on the continent. This awe-inspiring ancient city was never revealed to the conquering Spaniards and was virtually forgotten until the early part of the 20th century. Despite the great tourist influx, the site manages to retain an air of grandeur and mystery, and is a must for all visitors to Peru”.
Machu Picchu is indeed amazing but please note that there are some considerations when visiting it, particularly if you come with children.
Machu Picchu gets crowded, especially from June to August. On the upside, if we take into consideration that this area is part of the Amazon rainforest, peak season is also the time with the least amount of rain in the year. So chances are you will get to see Machu Picchu in all its glory for the whole day, and that is excellent for pictures!!
VISITING MACHU PICCHU
To visit Machu Picchu you will need 3 different tickets: train, shuttle bus and, of course the entrance tickets.
Machu Picchu entrance tickets have a a determined hour of entrance: From 6:00 am, 7:00, 8:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00 and 14:00 pm. Tickets can only be used once a day from the chosen time. It is very important to choose the appropriate entrance time taking into account the train arrival time. It takes no less than 30 minutes to get from the train station to the Machu Picchu entrance (see below).
All visits to Machu Picchu must be guided by a licensed (government-approved) tourist guide.
A regular, well-paced visit should take around 2.5 hours. However, it really depends on each person, and some want to stay there for hours doing nothing but contemplating the site. Another element to consider is whether someone wants to climb the Wayna (Huayna) Picchu mountain. If so, not only do you need a separate ticket but you also have to be at the Wayna entrance (inside MP) at 1 of 2 possibilities, either at 7am or 10am. Views are incredible but you need to be in top shape because the climb is very steep (total ascent is 1000feet - 360m). It takes approximately 60 minutes to go up and 45 minutes to descend.
If you want to climb the Wayna mountain you need to choose one of only 3 tickets possibilities: 6am entrance to citadel + 7am-8am entrance to Wayna, 7am entrance to citadel + 7am-8am entrance to Wayna or 8am entrance to citadel + 10.30am-11.30am entrance to Wayna. Tickets are very limited so you have to buy tickets months in advance.
There are no restaurants, shops or appropriate resting areas inside Machu Picchu. You are not allowed to picnic inside either. Please note that there are no toilets inside and you will have to return to the entrance (go up and down!) every time someone wants to go. A large bottle of water for each person and plenty of sunscreen is strongly advised.
GETTING THERE
As you may probably already know, there is only one available lodging possibility in Machu Picchu and that is the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. Prices are extremely high ($600 plus per night Jan-Feb / $ 1100 per night the rest of the year) and there is very little availability. Instead people tend to stay in Aguas Calientes, which is also the final destination of the Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu train. By the way, no train arrives directly to Machu Picchu. From Aguas Calientes you can either take the shuttle bus to the main entrance (8 miles/ 25 min) or walk uphill (90 minutes, moderate difficulty track).
Aguas Calientes is a touristy town, with a vast number of overpriced hotels and restaurants and a large souvenir market covering the main –and only- road. Double rooms range from USD 600/night in luxury hotels to USD 20/night in basic backpackers hostels, with a median price of around USD 85/night.
If you want to get to Machu Picchu you can easily do so as a day trip to Kantuwasi. You can catch an early train to visit Machu Picchu in the morning or a mid-morning train for a more relaxed afternoon visit. The closest train station are the ones in Urubamba (5 minutes by car) and Ollantaytambo (25 minutes by car).
All trains are very comfortable but unfortunately extremely expensive. The basic train is the Expedition which feature panoramic windows and comfortable seats. The Vistadome trains have larger panoramic windows (glass roof) and include a snack and non-alcoholic beverages. The Sacred Valley train offers a gourmet dining experience in 1920s style cars on a 3-hour journey from Urubamba to Machu Picchu.
Alternative Route
If you have an adventurous spirit, there is an alternative route to Machu Picchu, which involves going by car through spectacular scenery as the mountains give way to the Amazon rainforest. It takes 5 hours to get to Santa Teresa by car (Van), followed by a very short train ride or 2 to 3-hour hike along rail tracks to finally reach Aguas Calientes. Most importantly, you must sleep in Aguas Calientes, which makes the price difference small versus the regular route. Price is approximately USD 50 per person (private Van) plus the optional short train ride which costs USD 31 per way. People normally walk to Aguas Calientes and return by train. If you are interested we can help you organize this trip.
For more info please visit http://goo.gl/z4tTbn
Important information:
We strongly recommend you buy tickets to Machu Picchu in advance since the maximum capacity of 500-800 people per hour can be easily reached, especially in peak months. If you choose to climb the Huayna Picchu mountain the limit is further reduced. Unfortunately only adult and children tickets can be bought online through the official website. Student tickets can be bought either directly at an official office (Cusco or Aguas Calientes) or through other authorized internet vendors (see below).
You need to take your passport with you; otherwise you will be denied access to Machu Picchu. Some important restrictions:
- No bags larger than 40x35x20cm (16x14x8 inches). There's a checkroom if needed.
- No food or alcoholic beverages (non-alcoholic are OK)
- No umbrellas or parasol
- No tripods or camera pods (sticks). Selfie sticks are also not allowed.
- No high heels or hard-soled shoes.
- No baby strollers. Baby carriers without a metal frame are allowed.
- Canes are allowed only if they have a rubber tip.